Fender locking tuners - upgrade.

skunkwerx · October 2020

Been thinking about switching the Tuners out on my American Professional Tele for Fenders locking ones.

They’re a drop in replacement but I’ve noticed something when checking them out..

Stock, the guitar has fenders normal staggered tuners, with the E and A strings peg’s being long and the D,G,B,e strings pegs being short.

The locking replacements though are 3 long and 3 short which is a shame.. why would they do this lol?!

I fear the break angle on the D string is going to suffer if it moves from a short peg to a long one, especially locking so there are no wraps to assist it.

I’ve emailed Fender to see if they would supply a set of all short post locking types, as these are standard on the Ultra models, or at least supply me an additional 1 short post one. Not holding my breath though.

I did think about just installing them anyway but putting a long post one on the high e or B and using that short post for the D.. as the string tree would negate any break angle issue on those two highest strings.

Nowt wrong with the regular tuners on it mind, just love locking types.

Whats yer thoughts?

Musicwolf · October 2020

I did this swap on my US Strat about 10 years ago. Never had any problems.

grungebob · October 2020

Don’t use Fender ones try another brand?

ICBM · October 2020

Why do you need locking tuners on a Tele?

crunchman · October 2020

ICBM said:

Why do you need locking tuners on a Tele?

For easy string changes.

thegummy · October 2020

I use the 3 & 3 locking tuners and there is no problem at all.

drofluf · October 2020

crunchman said:

ICBM said:

Why do you need locking tuners on a Tele?

For easy string changes.

How much easier does it make it? I just changed the strings on my Tele and it took less than 15 minutes and that included taking the old ones off by unwinding rather than cutting, searching for the wire cutters, tuning and tidying away.

grungebob · October 2020

I like the vintage poke the string in the shaft type super easy and quick to restring.

Offset · October 2020

I have Fender/Schaller drop-in locking tuners on two Strats and a Tele. One Strat and the Tele have 3/3 staggered tuners and no issues. Why fit them? Not only faster, easier string changes but more tuning stability. And I like 'em.

SteveRobinson · October 2020

skunkwerx said:

The locking replacements though are 3 long and 3 short which is a shame.. why would they do this lol?!

I fear the break angle on the D string is going to suffer if it moves from a short peg to a long one, especially locking so there are no wraps to assist it.

Whats yer thoughts?

Put the short posts on the A, D and G strings. B & E have a string guide so it makes no difference what height they are.

Devil#20 · October 2020

I'd leave it as is I think. Expensive option just for faster string changes. There shouldn't really be a tuning stability issue with a Telecaster if the nut is properly lubricated and you can fine tune the break angles with string through the post tuners anyway. Personally I like vintage string down the middle tuners on a tele.

Greatape · October 2020

Hipshot. Easy to fit, no drilling required a d a variety of heights available.

thegummy · October 2020

drofluf said:

crunchman said:

ICBM said:

Why do you need locking tuners on a Tele?

For easy string changes.

How much easier does it make it? I just changed the strings on my Tele and it took less than 15 minutes and that included taking the old ones off by unwinding rather than cutting, searching for the wire cutters, tuning and tidying away.

Based on your post, 15 times easier lol

CasperCaster · October 2020

For convenience I have lockers on most of mine, and only leave them stock if the tuners are the vintage Kluson style ones (which are still my favourites). Like you, I prefer lockers for quick string changes rather than anything else.

Fender/Ping locking tuners are fine (Schaller haven't made them for Fender for ages now), but mine are 4+2 staggered. I scoured eBay for ages as occasionally singles come up for sale. They seem to be readily available singly in the US but not here.

Occasionally older Fender/Schaller made one's are available from Fender (plain locking wheel). These are either short or long post (sorry, I don't know the part numbers) and have the same diameter bushing thread as Ping, but the Schaller made variant had a short thread within the tuner collar. The Ping bushing is the correct thread but is too long, so won't seat against the headstock face and will stand proud, so you would need to cut it down. Of course, Fender supply them either without the bushing, or with the wrong Ping bushing - genius! Schallers own branded version with an embossed 'S" on the locking wheel are 3+3 (short and long) and have the same short thread within the collar, and were made until around 2016-ish? The current Schaller branded version is distinguished by a satin 'S' on the locking wheel and now takes the long Ping style bushing (hurrah!). However, these are 3+3 with long and medium posts (no short posts) which seems like madness to me, and many dealers haven't updated their product listings (e.g. Thomann) so their info is wrong. Schaller do sell tuners individually, and when they started making their current version they briefly made a short post version available as a part (not in sets). Sadly they no longer sell the short post variant at all. Thankfully I did manage to get a few when they were available.

thegummy · October 2020

CasperCaster said:

For convenience I have lockers on most of mine, and only leave them stock if the tuners are the vintage Kluson style ones (which are still my favourites). Like you, I prefer lockers for quick string changes rather than anything else.

I've never had the vintage tuners but they do look so so nice so I'd probably do without locking tuners if I had a guitar with vintage.

uksaint7 · October 2020

CasperCaster said:

Schaller do sell tuners individually, and when they started making their current version they briefly made a short post version available as a part (not in sets). Sadly they no longer sell the short post variant at all. Thankfully I did manage to get a few when they were available.

Think these might be the short post Schallers? https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/353163625252

skunkwerx · October 2020

uksaint7 said:

CasperCaster said:

Schaller do sell tuners individually, and when they started making their current version they briefly made a short post version available as a part (not in sets). Sadly they no longer sell the short post variant at all. Thankfully I did manage to get a few when they were available.

Think these might be the short post Schallers? https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/353163625252

Ah nice, thats cool then if I can nab a single short post seperately!

CasperCaster · October 2020

@skunkwerx ; that is the Schaller made version with the plain locking wheel. The bushing will have the correct diameter thread but will likely be too long, so you'll need to shorten the threaded section of the bushing.

Edit: I have a short post Schaller made version spare. It has the satin 'S' on the locking wheel and correct length bushing - £20 delivered if you're at all interested.

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Fender locking tuners - upgrade.

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